So im sort of expert with "All Things Lung"
I had lobectomy of upper right lobe to remove cancerous nodules. Since confined to just that lobe Doc decided a minimal invasive surgery, was in order. I was petrified scared was going from under armpit to belly button. He decided on VATS to do surgery. ( if u have say ,ask for it) I don't know how extensive your cancer is, but 4 or 5 little holes, way better than opening up your whole side. But surgery was total success,, cancer gone these past 6 years. Ya couple small problems that my Doc ( who was Chief Thoracic Surgeon of Mercy Medical Center in Springfield MA) handled with only years of experience in his calling can provide. Make it short,,i ended up in an extended stay situation, because drainage was disconcerting, lol,, 7 Xtra days, and container was still being filled by drainage tube coming out rather large hole ( size of Quarter) under armpit. And to my surprise i was given a portable drainage container box with same rather large tube coming out that hole under armpit. So now im home getting better by the day, going restaurants and grocery shopping,,and visiting family,,all with Nasty box of drainage fluids slung over shoulder. Well 2 WEEKS of thinking i guess im stuck with this Death Till We Part Apparatus when I get call from Doctors nurse. Hey!! Im still seeing fluids coming out,,rather alot Pleural Effusion im done. LOL. Come find out,,NORMAL NOW COMES THE MAGIC TRICK. So u thinking, this tube no big deal,, you've heard of drainage tubes before so u think nothing of it going Doc office, talking chitchat and when he walks up gets good firm grip on tube and while STILL CHITCHAT ING,,PULLS WITH A STEADY, EVEN FORCE AND OUT COMES 8 FOOT TUBE!!! That's it. U not coming back there again!! But u have NOTHING TO FEAR IN HANDS OF EXPERIENCED Thoracic Surgeon. They have come long way in lung cancer technology. If you make 5 years Post. U kicked it's ASS I WISH YOU LUCK. RELAX EXCEPT WEN U IN OFFICE AND SOMEONE GOES FOR END OF DRAINAGE TUBE IT HAS TO BE DONE SO RELAX LOL